I go for me

Why do you go to church?

Think about it really, why are you there?

Is it because your suppose to be or maybe your guilty if your not? Or is it because you want something or to give something?

Why do you go to church?

I was talking with some friends about people who had left our church and we were wondering why it had happened. People come and go for lots of reasons but this one seamed odd. They were so active in the church. They hosted our young adults once a month for free food and seamed to be very involved.

Then we started to think about it. They would often not come to the actual service. It was too nice a day out or to rotten a day to go.

So I started to think about why I go.

I go because I want to fellowship and grow. I go because I think it’s a good thing to do. I go because it’s part of my routine.

But in the end I go to meet God and I think if I go with that attitude I will.

Why do you go where you do or not go where you don’t go? Are you changing churches? What is the real reason?

Is the fault with the church not meeting your needs or is it with the reason you go and the attitude you take?

Are you meeting the needs of the church?

proof of God?

We say things like ‘God if you’re there tell me’ or ‘God if you really love me you’ll heal my friend.’

I was thinking about how we interact with God and the way in which we believe. So often people say that if God would only do something miraculous in their life then they would believe. Seams simple enough, God do something miraculous and you’ll have all the believers you’ll ever want.

But maybe we are going about it the wrong way. It seams to me that we set up some criteria and then say ‘God meet this.’ As if for some reason we are in a position to tell God what to do and how to do it. We tell God what He needs to do.

Strange considering God was here before us and is ultimately in charge. That would be like going to your boss and saying ‘I need you to tell me what to do in written format only or I won’t ever do it. And if you don’t do it like that, then it’s your fault and that’s why things aren’t getting done.’

We place our inequities on God and say it’s his fault.

God wants a relationship. Relationships are lived, they are felt they are emotional. You can’t quantify and measure them but they are experienced. God set out the criteria to meet Him. Be real and honest. Try, open your self up and honestly search for Him and you’ll find Him, you will experience Him.

Maybe this isn’t shattering to you but it was to me as I thought of it. We don’t get to pick the criteria for God to prove himself and if we chose to not believe God chosen criteria that’s on us and not Him, omnipotent as He is.

hope and expectatoin

What is hope?

Do we have it or say it or act it out?

How can we prove our hope in God or do we need to? What are the actions of a hopeful person?

If my hope is in God how does that shape the way I live my life?

Do I drive without a seatbelt hoping he will keep me safe? Do I eat anything I want hoping he will keep me thin (which is not working at the moment) and healthy?

I think living in hope is hard. I think having hope is hard. It requires us to know better but still expect it to happen. It requires us to know that there is no reason it should happen but to live expectant that Gods word is good and his love is pure.

I don’t think living with hope in God means we abdicate our responsibility or our personal care but that we can expect the impossible and live in that expectation. I expect my father to be healed and so I make plans for the future with him and live with hope and expectation that he will be there. He might not and all reason says he shouldn’t but that doesn’t stop me from acting as if he will until I’m told other wise.

How do you live by hope and expectation?

for the people

Youth live in a different world.

They see things, the world really, in a different way. They interact with the world and each other in different ways. And far to often they are seen as irresponsible, unintelligent and needing to grow up.

So what do we adults do? We create programs and activities and ‘things for them to do’ and ‘things they need to be better off later.’

How often do was ask them what they want or what they need?

If you run a ministry, for any age, and don’t ask the people you’re running the ministry for for their input then how do you expect it to be life changing and engaging?

I’m not saying all youth know what they need to grow up but they do know what they want to alleviate boredom or to help with their relational problems. As opposed to tell them they want to play basketball and to talk to someone they don’t know maybe we should ask them what they want and how they want it delivered.

If you really want to reach out to your community ask them. Ask them how they want you to reach out then do that. Simple but it will work.

meet God

How do you meet God?

How do you experience God?

Have you ever meet God or experienced Him?

If you haven’t give this a try. Take 10 minutes a day in silence. No music even if it is really good Christian music.

Just time for you and God. Just you giving space for God to connect with you.

If you reach out God will meet you but you have to stick with it. There is so much noise in our live that keeps us from hearing God and distracts us from His voice. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear Him the first time.

He will come that much I can promise you.

valued and wanted

I was talking with a young lady this weekend.

She has to mothers.

She was saying how when she walks down the street with her moms she feels awkward. She feels judged and uncomfortable.

We make judgments all day long and don’t even realize it. The looks we give or don’t give. We look to long or not at all.

Jesus attracted those who felt like outcasts in society. The ones that felt like no one wanted them and that nobody valued them. He wanted them, He valued them and He left us here to carry on his work or wanting and valuing and love.

How are you going to show value to the unvalued and love to the unloved? And once you figure it out for today start think about how you’re going to do it tomorrow.

Mustache March

On Saturday night I will be shaving my beard into a very funny mustache. I’m doing it with a group of friends who are asking their other friends to pledge some money to a good cause because they will look ridiculous all month (I do not look good in a mustache, hence the ridiculous)

I really like the idea of engaging your friends and family to do something they may not and support a good cause when they may not usually do it.

So if you have some time (and maybe a razor) think about a worth while charity and how you can begin a drive to raise some much needed money for people who are in need.

3 things you need to do

Are you intentional?

This past weekend I was helping with a winter retreat. Lots of fun, to many energy drinks, but more than that God was there.

I saw people make life changing decisions that will encourage me to keep doing the ministry.

At the end of the weekend I sat down with my group and the exercise was to talk about how we were going to be intentional. How were we going to build our relationship with God this week? How are we going love others? How are we going to change the world?

We got lots of great answers. Someone said they were going to read a chapter of the bible every day, another said they were going to show respect to their parents and not have the attitude they always do, and another said they were going to make a commitment to being generous once a day.

Ok the last one was me. it’s one of the things I’m trying to do this year.

My question for you is what are you doing to grow your relationship with God, share his love with others, and change the world?

make someone’s day

It can be really easy to make someone’s day.
Finding a great parking space, a kind word from a friend, or a surprise gesture.

My wife likes our house clean. I don’t see the dirt but she does and that’s all that matters. I know if I want to make her day one thing I can do is clean the house before she gets home. It helps to settle her and make her feel comfortable in our space.
It doesn’t take long at all but it makes a big impact on her day.
I have a good friend that randomly shows up with coffee to my house. I love coffee but more than that I love that he thinks about me and knows that I’ll really appreciate getting it. A long, hard, tiring day can be changed by a simple unexpected coffee.
Our faith is about changing lives and impacting people through relationships. You can make someone’s day without doing a lot. The cool thing is that it will do a lot towards building a better relationship with that person and allowing you to better show them love, grace and all that God has to offer through you.
So make someone’s day today and then tell me, ‘cause I’d love to hear how you did it.

my prayer for you

My prayer for you

‘may you meet God in a special way this long weekend.

My you experience His love in a real and tangible way.

May you share that love and experience the blessing that comes with sharing God’s love and grace.

And may you be assured in your work and your purpose.”

God Bless, grace and peace.